Day Twenty-Eight

"Today, Duncan pulled over in his white Toyota pickup and offered me a lift. I declined, of course, and told him about the walk. A bit later he returned and offered me some fresh water from his well. As I gratefully drank, we talked about Intergenerational Justice and he said ‘I’m all over that!’

"Duncan lives on a farm his parents left to him, where he’s planting more apple, pear and cherry trees. People ask him why he does it, since he has no children, and he tells them that SOMEONE will live there after him and they will enjoy the trees. In a very real way, Duncan is looking ahead to future generations and planning to care for them.

"After a nice chat, Duncan asked if there was anything else he could do, and I was tempted by his mention of fresh fruit. ‘Sure,’ he said, ‘keep walking about a mile and I’ll meet you at my farm.’ When I arrived, he was there with another gallon of his well water, 5 apples and a freshly picked pear.

"In a very real way, Duncan is looking ahead to future generations and planning to care for them."

"We continued to chat and I learned more about Duncan’s generosity. He’s a nurse’s assistant at the hospital and he knows everyone. He uses the tools left to him from his carpenter-turned-doctor father to make toys for the local kids. I’m not the only one to benefit from Duncan’s kindness, but I’m sure glad I met him.

"This evening, I came upon the Kuhn family farm. I was excited to see that the store was open, and I bought a peach slush and some ice cream. When I was asking a lady where there might be an open area I could camp, a man about my age walked up and began to chat. I told him a little bit about my walk, and he said ‘Just walk out the back door here-- this is our orchard, and it’s yours for the night.’ He handed me a fresh peach and told me to help myself to any of the other fruit; I bedded down surrounded by apple trees and raspberry bushes.

The Kuhn Family Farm: "I bedded down surrounded by apple trees and raspberry bushes."

"It’s been a good day. I walked 17 miles on roads with wide shoulders and light colored pavement, and I met wonderful generous people who believe in caring for their fellow humans today and far into the future."